Method of connecting tub and pump units



Dec. 20, 1966 1 A. L. NIELSEN METHOD OF CONNECTING TUB AND PUMP UNITSFiled Aug. 25, 1965 r/l/ [Ill 14142 4 Ill/285 United States PatentOfifice 3,292,245 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3,292,246 METHOD OF CONNECTINGTUB AND PUMP UNITS Axel L. Nielsen, 1316 E. Elza, Hazel Park, Mich.48030 Filed Aug. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 432,470

Claims. (Cl. 29-157) The present application is -a continuation-in-partof my copending application Serial No. 308,960, filed September 16,1963, and entitled Pump and Tank Coupling Means.

The invention herein disclosed relates to an improved method forcoupling a motorized pump unit in communication with the dischargefitting of a liquid containing vessel, such as a laundry tub, tank ortray or other liquid receiver or container to be periodically pumpeddry, with the pump unit suspended from above by such fitting.

Laundry tubs in present day use are commonly provided with an outletfitting or drain opening through the bottom thereof at a relativelyslight elevation above a basement or similar floor on which the tubrests; and the method contemplates a direct suspended connection of amotorized pump unit to such fitting. However, a considerableinconvenience has arisen in the past in effecting a leak-proof union ofthe pump unit to the tub discharge, primarily because of the verticallyrestricted and dark space beneath the latter. This requires the plumberor other installer to stoop in a very awkward position beneath the tuband, supporting the motorized pump unit manually, turn the latter aboutan upright axis to thread its central, upper intake eye onto thethreaded tub discharge fitting. The bulk and weight of the pump unitmakes this a difiicult and cumbersome operation, which is futhercomplicated as to awkwardness by the presence of pre-assembled dischargefitting means and piping of the pump, electrical pump motor cable, andthe like, all of which have the effect of adding to the difficulty ofmaking a proper water-tight joint at the tub.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide an improvedmethod involving the use of multiplepart coupling means to facilitatethe water-tight, vertically suspended union of a motorized pump unit tothe externally threaded discharge fitting of a laundry tub or otherbottom-drainable, liquid containing vessel. Pursuant to the subjectmethod, the assembling operation requires only the proper manualsuspension of the pump unit beneath the discharge fitting (assisted,possibly, by some sort of temporary physical floor support for themotorized pump unit), and the threading of a simple jam nut onto thetube fitting to complete the assembly, without requiring any turning ortwisting of the assembled pump unit itself, and thus avoiding thedrawbacks of inconvenience and awkwardness referred to above.

Certain very practical considerations have led to the development of themethod. While pump drained laundry tubs have to some extent supplantedgravity drained tubs, as in suburban residences having overheadplumbing, and hence required by state and local codes to dispose of thelaundry water immediately because of a possible health hazard, it hasbeen found impossible to sustain the pump unit directly from the tuboutlet and still obtain a satisfactory liquid-tight seal at the joint,particularly in view of the imposed weight of the pump and motorstructure.

That is, regardless of whether the tub as supplied by its manufacturerwas ultimately gravity-drained or pumpdrained, an entirely conventionalsort of pump coupling was applied to an entirely conventional tubfitting; and this resulted, in a pump-drained installation, in a greatdifliculty in obtaining a good seal, since the tub fitting was neverdesigned in the first place for mechanical evacuation. Moreover, acoupling applied to the tub fitting and capable of being gasketed couldnot support significant weight.

The method of the invention overcomes these drawbacks, making itpossible for the plumber to effect a perfect seal at the conventionaltub outlet, while the latter supports a substantial pump and motorweight, and the installation is made quickly and easily, with the pumpsdischarge always located in proper position when the connection istightened.

The coupling method makes this possible because of its use of a sealinggasket at the weight supporting connection; whereas tubs have heretoforebeen pumpdrained only by resort to the use of slip fittings incapable ofsupporting substantial weight, and never, to my knowledge, by employinga gasketed joint which will both seal and support motor and pump weight.

Moreover, theimproved method makes it possible for standard pipecoupling or nipple members to be employed in combination with a standardannular flanged jam nut to effect the desired sealed connection andsuspension of the pump unit to and from the tank or tub. These standardparts are converted to the purposes of the invention in a manner to bedescribed.

Yet another specific object is to provide a method of coupling pumpintakes of different diameters to a standard tub discharge fitting; andof coupling a pump unit to the discharge means of either a single tub ora dual discharge tub unit, with the ease and convenience mentionedabove.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a sealed suspendedconnection of a motorized pump unit to a bottoin-drainable liquidvessel, typically shown as a laundry tub, as elfected by the method ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the tub and pump asthus coupled;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of themethod in the coupling to a standard tub outlet fitting of a motorizedpump unit having perhaps a smaller or larger diameter intake than thepump unit; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in section similar to FIGS. 2 and 3illustrating the method as performed in mounting the pump to a dualdischarge type of pump unit, calling for the use of a supplementalbranched fitting.

The method of the present invention involves the use of a coupling whichis generally designated by the reference numeral 10; and it is employedin the manner indicated above to suspend an electrically motorized pumpunit 11 from the tub 12, in vertically spaced relation to a basement orlike floor 13 on which the tub 12 is sup ported by an appropriate framestructure 14. The unit 11 includes a motor 16, the motor beingelectrically energized through a conductor cable 17, equipped with aswitch 17', and a pump housing 18, whose impeller (not shown) isdirectly connected to the motor. The pump housing includes a centralupper, tubular intake part or member 19 at the pump intake eye, and aradial or tangential, tubular discharge fitting 20, which is connectedby an L 21 and other conventional check valve provisions 22 to anupwardly extending discharge pipe 23.

The pump housing 18 is also provided with an upwardly extending pressuretransmitting control tube 24 opening downwardly into housing 18 at apredetermined radial point thereon; and the function of this tube in thestart-stop control of pump unit 11,.in response to varying liquid levelin tub 12, is explained in detail in my Letters Patent No. 3,043,225 ofJuly 10, 1962. It is seen by reference to FIG. 1, that the assembly ofpump unit \11 including motor and pump housing 18, discharge fitting 20and associated means, Wiring cable 17, and the like presents a quitebulky and cumbersome object, very awkward of manipulation in threadingthe same upwardly onto the tub discharge fitting from a restricted spaceand inconvenient, dark location, in the manner heretofore necessary.Accordingly, the improved method utilizes coupling to eliminate thesedrawbacks, while still providing a weight bearing suspension of themotorized pump unit 11 from the tub or tank 12 thereabove.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the tub 12 conventionally comprises ahorizontal bottom panel 25 provided with a circular opening 26 whichreceives a discharge mouth or fitting 27 for the downward drainage ofthe tub. Fitting 27 is provided with drain openings 28 .at its bottom, acylindrical upwardly extending Wall 29 which has a standard externalthread at 30, and an outwardly flared, annular t-op flange 31 abuttingthe margin of the1tub opening 26 from above. An annular cupped clampring 32 similarly engages the tub bottom 25 from beneath, the clamp ringencircling fitting wall 29 and being clamped against the tub by a nut 33applied to the external fitting thread 30. The invention does notconcern this mount of the fitting 27 to tub 12, which may be considereda typically simple one. In other types of tub, such as cement tubs, thisfitting is cast into the raw cement and is not removable or turnable;and it is to be understood that the method of the invention is alsosuited for coupling pump units on them. In other words, the method makespossible the mounting of the pump on the tub without need to move anytub part.

The coupling 10 essentially comprises three components which, though ofbasically standard production nature, are nevertheless specially relatedto one another and to the tub discharge fitting 27 and pump intake eyepart 19, as regards dimensional characteristics, in a manner hereinafterdescribed. These components are a cylindrical adapter sleeve 35,resembling a standard pipe nipple threaded at one end, in that it isprovided at its lower end with standard pipe size external threading 36having liquid-tight sealing engagement with standard internal threads 37of the intake eye part 19 of pump unit 11.

As will appear, the threads 37 are incapable of mating with thethreading of the tub discharge fitting or member 27. At its upper end,the nipple-like adapter 35 is upset radially to provide an annularsuspending lip or flange 39 of greater diameter than the body of theadapter.

The second component of the coupling 10 is an annular sealing gasket orwasher 4-1 of a suitable deterioration-resistant, compressible material,such as a synthetic plastic. This gasket has a relatively thin annular,axially extending flange 42 of a size to fit readily within the top ofsleeve adapter 35, and a relatively thickened annular shoulder or flange43 which extends radially over the sleeve adapter flange 39, beingcoextensive with the latter in external diameter.

The third component of coupling 10 is an annular jam nut 45, which isprovided with a standard internal thread at 46 to mate with the externalthread 30 of tub fitting 27; and beneath this threaded zone, the jam nut45 provides an annular, radially extending suspending flange 47. Theflange 47 is of lesser inner diameter than the CD. of sleeve adapterflange 39, but slightly greater than the CD. of the sleeve body topermit a sliding fit of nut 45 along the latter.

In using the coupling 10, its adapter member 35 is tightly threaded intothe standard internal thread 37 of pump intake part 19, this in effectconstituting the conpling, a unitary extension of pump unit 11 sealed atthe intake eye of its pump housing 18. A lubricating type of scaling isusually employed at this threaded joint,but.

no other special seal is required.

' Then, holding the pump and coupling assembly fixedly and coaxiallybeneath the tub discharge mouth fitting 27 (or suitably supporting thesame on an appropriate floor support), the plumber or installer simplyslips jam nut 45 upwardly and threads the latter onto the threading 30of fitting 27, rotating only the nut 45, in this operation. As tightlytaken up, and with the pump discharge 20 and. associated parts orientedangularly in a horizontal plane.

as desired, the nut 45 compresses gasket 41 against fitting 27 to effecta liquid tight seal of coupling 10 and uniti 11 to the latter. Also, byengagement of the nut flange 47 beneath the sleeve flange 39, thecoupling afiords a weight-suspension support for the motorized pump unit11. This manipulation may be performed in a fraction of the time,difliculty and inconvenience involved in the threading rotation of theentire pump unit directly onto.

the tub fitting 27 Furthermore, in order to provide an effectiveconnection to the tub outlet, pursuant to the previous procedure abovementioned, the problem was presented of making a water-tight seal of thepump intake upwardly;

against only the thread of the tub fitting; and it is diflicult toeffect the proper seal against the thread and still have i the pumpdischarge fitting (such as the fitting 20 with" associated connections21, 22, 23) oriented in the proper angular direction. If the pump intakeis backed oifsorne amount for this purpose, the efiectiveness of theseal is necessarily diminished or destroyed. All of this is compoundedby the physical difliculty of making the connection, as described above.It has also heretofore beenimpossible to introduce special sealinggasket means in threaded connections of this sort due to the absence ofany shoulder means at the joint against which to compress the gasket.

However, the present invention permits the use of the compressibleannular gasket 41 for the desiredly tight seal, with the pump unitproperly oriented as desired, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, beforethe final compression of the gasket is efiected on tightening jam nut45.

Heretofore, pump-drained tubs have been employed, primarily in suburbaninstallations having so-called overhead plumbing, because of therequirement of state and local codes that laundry water be disposed ofimmediately, rather than being accumulated in a sump or the like, inview of the possible arising of a health hazard. Objections of the sortmentioned above remain, however, in

regard to the impossibility of getting a good liquid seal at a tubfitting which was never intended to have a seal at a thread, and thegreat difliculty of tightening the thread connection and still have thepump discharge properly located. vention contributes ease and speed ofassembly of the pump unit to the tub, in a manner to conveniently and ini A a minimum of space suspend the pump from the tub,

while getting a perfect seal with the pump discharge properly located.

Reference has been made above to the fact that the 1 coupling employsstandard fitting and nut parts capable of ready modification for thepurpose of the invention. While these parts may vary in dimension asproduced l by different manufacturers, a typical coupling 10 accord-.ing to the invention will include an adapter sleeve 35 I made of astandard 1% inch pipe nipple of selected length having threading 36 atits lower end matching the internal thread 37 at pump intake 19. Theouter diameter A It is for such installations that the present insleevenipple member 35, and its threads 36. However, the minimum CD. of theavailable 1 /2 inch slip nut beneath its threading 46 is typically atrue 1 inch, which will not receive the nipple component.

Accordingly, the invention contemplates the opening up of the slip nutat its minimum throat diameter to a diameter C of, say, 1.665 inch atthe jam nut flange 47, thus to accommodate the sleeve nipple. Asindicated above, the upper end of the nipple is radially outwardly upsetto provide the annular top flange 39, in a diameter D of, say, 1.755inch.

Thus, the sleeve flange 39 will radially inwardly overlap the nut flange47 to the extent of about 0.090 inch along a diameter, for the desiredweight-suspending support of the pump unit 16 through the agency ofcoupling 10, as the latter is applied to tub discharge fitting 27. Sucha suspension support of a pump unit from a tub is impossible by resortto known and commercially available slip fitting tail pieces, which areunthreaded' and hence incapable of suspending weight.

Mention has been made above of the use of a standard pipe nipple havinga standard 1.660 inch thread 36 at its lower end to thread into theintake part 19 of pump housing 18, such arrangement permitting the useof a standard (though modified) slip member for the jam nut 45, and thusadapting the pump for a perfectly sealed, weight supporting mount to thestandard tub discharge fitting 27. However, some manufacturers supply amotorized pump having a smaller sized intake eye, for instance one inch,so that ordinarily the adapter means used for a larger diameter intake,including the modified nipple element, cannot be used. In order to makethe adaptation to the smaller diameter pump intake, the inventioncontemplates the use of the coupling of FIG. 3, generally designated 49.

Coupling 49 includes adapter sleeve means, generally designated 50,which is of two-part construction. One of these parts is an uppertubular or annular member 51 adapted to telescope within the opening ofthe flange 47 of the jam nut 45, the latter being of an internaldiameter at the flange 47, as before, to telescopingly receive member51; and as in the first embodiment adapter member 51 is radiallyoutwardly flanged at 52 for supporting coaction with flange 47. A simplecompressible washer or gasket 53 is interposed between flange 52 and thebottom of tub fitting 27.

The second part of the tubular coupling means 50 of coupling 49 is astandard nipple 54 threaded at both ends; and the upper adapter member51 is internally threaded at 55 to sealingly receive nipple 54. Thediameter at the threaded joint 55 is standard for the member 54, whichis chosen in a diameter such that its lower threading at 56 will matewith the internal threading of the pump intake part 19. This has beeninstanced above as, say, one inch, or less than the OD. of a one-pieceadapter sleeve 35, such as is employed in the embodiment of FIG. 2. Bythe same token, a so-called reducing bushing can be employed in theadapter to fit the same to a pump intake of greater diameter than thataccommodated by the normal adapter sleeve 35. Accordingly, it is seenthat in one adaptation or another, the improved method has versatilityin the coupling to tubs of pump intakes of substantially difierentdiameters.

As clearly appears in FIG. 4, the method of the invention is readilypracticed in the suspended connection of a pump unit to a dual dischargetype of tub or container unit 58, i.e., having like discharge fittings59, 60 for subdivided portions of its interior. For such a dual unit, abranched type of connector 61 is employed, in the form of a castinghaving laterally spaced bosses 62, each internally threaded at 63 formating engagement with the external threading of the discharge fittings59, 60. Adapter casting 61 provides a connecting manifold 64 for thesedischarge members leading to a single, downwardly opening and externallythreaded discharge mouth 65.

The branched manifold fitting 61, as a casting, differs substantiallyfrom the usual, relatively thin walled discharge fitting 27 of a laundrytub, which may have the external threading 30 simply rolled thereon.However, as in the earlier embodiment, with fitting 61 tightly appliedto the discharge members of the divided tub 58, the same procedure isfollowed in suspending the pump unit 11 from the tub. Reference numeralscorresponding to those employed in FIG. 2 are used to designatecorresponding parts of the coupling means 10, the jam nut 45 havingmating threading engagement from beneath with the single dischargemember 65 with the branched manifold member 61.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A method of suspending a motor driven pump at the internal threadingof its intake from a rigid tub or like container discharge fitting whichis externally threaded but incapable of threadedly mating with the pumpintake threading, comprising providing a tubular adapter externallythreaded at one end thereof for mating threaded engagement with saidpump intake threading and having a radially outwardly projecting flangeof predetermined outer diameter, providing a jam nut internally threadedfor mating engagement with the threading of said container dischargefitting and having an internal flange of smaller inner diameter than theouter diameter of said adapter flange, telescoping said jam nut on saidadapter with the nut rotatable about said adapter and the nut flangepositioned for supporting engagement from beneath with the adapterflange, then threading said adapter into fixed threaded engagement withthe pump intake, manually supporting said pump and adapter thereon abovethe floor beneath the tub and under said discharge fitting in apredetermined angular relationship to the latter, and then rotating saidnut into threaded engagement with the container discharge fitting, whilethus supporting and without rotating said pump and adapter from saidpredetermined angular position, to bring said adapter, as sustained bysaid nut and sustaining said pump, into fixed and sealed communicationwith said container fitting.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the ratio of the outer diameter ofsaid adapter to the crest diameter of the internal threading with whichsaid jam nut is provided corresponds substantially to the ratio of theouter diameter of a standard 1%" pipe nipple to the crest diameter ofinternal threading of a standard 1 /2" slip nut.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the ratio of the outer diameter ofsaid adapter to the crest diameter of the internal threading with whichsaid jam nut is provided is approximately 1.660/ 1.762.

4. The method of claim 1, in which said container has a single.discharge fitting threadedly engaged from beneath by said jam nut.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the container has dual dischargemeans, said jam nut being upwardly threaded onto a single dischargefitting of said dual means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,063 12/1916Steneck 285-12 X 3,043,225 7/1962 Nielsen 103-25 3,142,448 7/1964 Hogue24132.5

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,511,017 10/1924 Binder. 1,956,654 5/1934 Pope. 2,536,928 1/1951 Hammell.

CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF SUSPENDING A MOTOR DRIVEN PUMP AT THE INTERNAL THREADINGOF ITS INTAKE FROM A RIGID TUB OR LIKE CONTAINER DISCHARGE FITTING WHICHIS EXTERNALLY THREADED BUT INCAPABLE OF THREADEDLY MATING WITH THE PUMPINTAKE THREADING, COMPRISING PROVIDING A TUBULAR ADAPTER EXTERNALLYTHREADED AT ONE END THEREOF FOR MATING THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDPUMP INTAKE THREADING AND HAVING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGEOF PREDETERMINED OUTER DIAMETER, PROVIDING A JAM NUT INTERNALLY THREADEDFOR MATING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE THREADING OF SAID CONTAINER DISCHARGEFITTING AND HAVING AN INTERNAL FLANGE OF SMALLER INNER DIAMETER THAN THEOUTER DIAMETER OF SAID ADAPTER FLANGE, TELESCOPING SAID JAM NUT ON SAIDADAPTER WITH THE NUT ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID ADAPTER AND THE NUT FLANGEPOSITIONED FOR SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT FROM BENEATH WITH THE ADAPTERFLANGE, THEN THREADING SAID ADAPTER INTO FIXED THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE PUMP INTAKE, MANUALLY SUPPORTING SAID PUMP SAID ADAPTER THEREONABOVE THE FLOOR BENEATH THE TUB AND UNDER SAID DISCHARGE FITTING IN APREDETERMINED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP TO THE LATTER, AND THEN ROTATING SAIDNUT INTO THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONTAINER DISCHARGE FITTING, WHILETHUS SUPPORTING AND WITHOUT ROTATING SAID PUMP AND ADAPTER FROM SAIDPREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION, TO BRING SAID ADAPTER, AS SUSTAINED BYSAID NUT AND SUSTAINING SAID PUMP, INTO FIXED AND SEALED COMMUNICATIOINWITH SAID CONTAINER FITTING.